Locking device



2 sHEETs-sHEET1L l `H. GAGNE. LOCKING DEVICE.

FILED SEPT. 5,1922.

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` wie@ 5gg/ i l aan, i 'l Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

HERVEY GAGN, OF ST. JEAN DIBERVILLE, QUEBEC, CANADA.

LOCKING DEVICE.

Application led September 5, 1922. Serial No. 586,282.

T all u' hom t may concern Be it known that I, HERVEY GAGNE, a sub` ject of the King of Great Britain, residing full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a new and useful locking device to be used in connection with railway switches- In railway switches of this character already in existence, it has been found that when the switch rail is shifted into a desired position it often becomes displaced or works itself loose whereby a train may become derailed or directed to the wrong track.

IV ith this diiiiculty -in view, the primary object of the invention resides in an attachment associated with a railway switch, whereby the switch rail is positively locked in desired position. Accordingly, it is impossible, with this invention in use, for the switch rail to move out of the adjusted position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a construction of this nature -in which the working parts are protected from the weather and are consequently operable in all seasons.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description continues, while others will be particularly pointed out. The invention is fully disclosed in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which: y

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device applied to a railway switch;

Fig. 2 is a plan thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the device er se;

Figure 4 is a view taken at right angles to Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail of the lock box with the cover removed; and,

Figure 8 is a similar view of a modied form.

Referring to the various views by corresponding reference characters throughout, the numeral 10 indicates a railway track mounted on ties 11 and including a switch rail 12. At one side of the track and in proximity to the switch rail is an operating or shifting device 13 comprising a standard 14 in the top of which is formed a square hole 15. A block 17 having a squared bottom 18 is mounted upon the standard, the squared portion 18 fitting in the recess 15. A shaft 19 passes through the block 17 and through the standard. shaft carries an eccentric device 2O to which is pivoted a link 21 extending to the switch rails 12 and secured thereto.

The shaft 19 is surrounded at its upper end by a fixed collar 22 to the upper end of which is pivoted a lever 23. The latter is fulcrumed at one end of a link 24, this link being pivotally mounted on the block 17, as at 25. A iiange 26 surrounds' the block and has secured thereto a rod 27 which extends downwardly and carries at its lower end a link 28 connected to a bell crank lever 29 pivoted at the base. At the other end of the bell crank lever is a thimble 29 in which is received the threaded end 30 of a connecting rod 30. The other end of the connecting rod is pivoted as at 30 to a rack 51 extending into the locking device 31, later to be described. A guide member 32 for the rod 27 is mounted on the standard, and an oil cup 14 is provided in the base of the standard to afford proper lubrication to the shaft 19.

The locking device, as shown in Figure 7, consists of a box 33 divided into three compartments by the partitions 34, 35. In the lower compartment 36 is mounted a rotatable pulley 37, while a rod 38 is slidable through the partitions.

A cable 39 connected to the lower end of the rod 38 and passing around the pulley has its opposite end connected to the pivot point 30 when this modification of locking device is employed. The other end of the rod 38 is provided with a head 40, and an expansion spring 41 surrounds the portion of the rod between the partition 34 and the head. In the intermediate compartment the rod 38 is provided at its lower' surface with teeth 42 between which is a notch 43. A second or auxiliary switch actuating rod 44, similar to the rod 21, is connected to the switch rails and extends into the box 33. The inner end of this rod is provided with notches 45 through which the rod 38 is free to move. I/Vhen the notch 43 of the rod 38 is superposed over the rod 44, the latter is free to The lower end of the' reciprocate, but when one of the teeth 42 lies in either of the notches 45 the rod 44 is locked.

The operation of this device is as follows:

Vhen it is desired to shift the switch rails, the handle or lever 23 is pulled upwardly, whereupon the squared end 18 is freed from the recess and the rod 27 is raised. Thereupon the link 30 is moved towards the standard, and through the action of the bell crank lever 29, the rod 38 is pulled towards the pulley 37 so that the notch 43 overlies the rod 44, as shown in Figure 7, and allows the latter to reciprocate. lith the-block 17 in raised position, the lever 23 is turned in the horizontal plane, causing reciprocation of the switch actuating rod 21 and the auxiliary rod 44. The lever 23 is now moved downwardly so that the squared end 18 again seats in the recess 15, but in a different position than formerly. The resulting downward movement of the plug allows the expansion spring 41 to draw the rod 38 back into its former position, so that one lof the teeth 42 holds the'rod 44 against movement, thus locking the switch in the desired position. As further vsecuring means, there is provided on the rotatable block 17 and adj acent the handle 23 an apertured lug 17 adapted to receive a padlock 17 for retaining` the handle in lowered position. Similarly the box 33 is provided. with a padlock 33A for preventing undue interference with the working parts therein. It will be noted that the `main and auxiliary switch actuating rods 21 and 44 respectively are articulated 'as at the pivot points 21 and 44 to provide lgreater flexibility.

The preferred form of locking mechanism which is illustrated in Figure 1 is shown in detail in Figure 8. The pulley and cable device of Figure 7 is replaced by a rack 51 adapted to reciprocate through the box and a pinion for cooperation therewith. This pinion is adapted to engage with teeth 52 formed in the rod 38 which corresponds to the rod 38 of Figure 7. The various Vmovements effected at the standard cause reciprocat'ion ofthe rod 38 and rack 51 through the medium of the pinion 50, as a result of which the locking operation is effected in the notches and teethf42, 43, 45, as already described in connection with Figure 7, since the arrangement of the latter parts is the same in both cases. rlhe box 31 is maintained in upright position by means of angular braces 53 mounted on the extensions of the ties 11.

v Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A switch locking device comprising a main switch actua-ting'rod adapted for connection with a switch rail, an auxiliary switch actuating rod adapted for connection with the switch rail and movable therewith, a casing mounted adjacent said track and adapted to slidably receive a portion of the auxiliary rod, and means within said casing for positively locking the auxiliary rod upon shifting of the main rod.

2. A switch locking device comprising a main switch actuating rod adapted for connection to a switch rail, a standard, a shaft rotatable within said standard and operatively connected with said main rod, an auX- iliary switch actuating rod adapted for connection to th-e switch rail and movable therewith, a portion of said latter rod being toothed, a locking member adapted for cooperation with the teeth of said auxiliary rod, and means for actuating said locking member.

3. A switch locking device kcomprising a standard, a shaft supported for reciprocation and rotation within the standard, a main switch actuating rod adapted for connection to a switch rail and operable upon rotation vof the shaft, an auxiliary switch rod adapted for connection to the rail and having` teeth, alocking member adapted for cooperation with. said teeth, andoperable upon reciprocation of said shaft.

4. A switch locking device comprising a main switch actuating rod and an auxiliary switch actuating rod adapted for connection to a switch rail and hav-ing teeth, a standard mounted adjacent the track, a shaft opera'ble within said standard and operatively connected with said main rod, a toothed member slidable over the teeth of said auxiliary rod and adapted for locking engagement therewith, anda rack and pinion device operable on said standard for actuating said toothed member.

' allel with said auxiliary'rod, a toothed member .slidably mounted with relation to the teeth of the auxiliary rod and adapted' for locking engagement therewith, and a pinion operatively engaging said rack and adapted to actuate said toothed member. f

In witness whereof I have hereunto -set m hand.

y ,HERVEY GAGNE. 

